some random thoughts...

Is your child feeling overwhelmed and intimidated by upper secondary Chemistry? Are you finding ways to support and encourage them to make learning less stressful?

As parents, the last thing we want is for our children to feel demoralised and resistant towards learning. From Sec 4 onwards, many weaker students will start to get left behind by their peers...

Based on my years of experience, students need to have a strong headstart to help them understand concepts better, with less misconceptions. This will give them the confidence they need to apply concepts in higher order thinking questions.

It is important for Sec 3 students to start attempting the Chemistry topical Ten Year Series which is a compilation of past examination papers from the last ten years. Although the Sec 3s this year have a slight change in the syllabus and examination format, most of the questions are still relevant and useful for practice. It will be best to find an experience tutor to adopt questions from the TYS and modify them to match the latest syllabus. Usually, I will use these papers to guide my students in practicing and preparing for their weighted assessments. Students will learn annotation skills when I think aloud in front of them. It is also important for Sec 3s to identify areas where they need help on and not wait till it’s too late.

Learning Chemistry goes beyond merely memorising concepts. It is crucial to make sure your child can explain the underlying concepts and theories to make him understand the topics thoroughly. Developing a deep understanding of every topic starting from Sec 3 is important to have a good headstart. With proper guidance and support, your child should slowly get to love Chemistry and at the same time increase his confidence in his abilities.